Nirvana, Replacements Among 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

Sixteen acts make up this year’s list of nominees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, announced early this morning. Topping out the list are Compton gangsta rappers N.W.A. and grunge pioneers Nirvana, both in their first years of eligibility. The list of nominees hope to join last year’s class of Randy Newman, Public Enemy, Donna Summer, Quincy Jones and Rush, who infamously waited 15 long years before finally earning a spot in the Hall.

Nirvana, whose 25-year-old debut album Bleach officially qualifies them for their first Rock and Roll Hall of Fameballot, will more than likely be inducted in their first year of eligibility. N.W.A, the west coast rap collective whose graphic depictions of inner-city violence on 1988’s Straight Out of Compton and 1991’s Niggaz4life got the attention of the federal government, are also appear on the ballot for the first time.

For the second year in a row, fans will get a chance to have their voice heard in the induction process. The public will be able to vote for who they’d like to see in the Hall starting Dec. 10. The five artists who receive the most fan votes will make it onto a fan-only ballot, from which the results will provide a small percentage of the total votes received in the year’s induction process. Artists can only be eligible for consideration 25 years after the release of their first record or single. According to the Hall of Fame’s official website, criteria include “the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.” The Rock and Roll Hall of FameFoundation was created in 1983 and is comprised of an international body of over 600 members who determine the year’s nominees. You can check out the entire 2014 list of nominees below.